On a grey overcast day last week – my London Shoes travelled throughout an Omicron riddled ‘Smoke’ to seek out some specific landmarks that were introduced to the London Underground tube network a few months back, but I’ve only just become aware of their existence.
Back in the summer, at a time when the Government eased the Covid19 pandemic restrictions – TfL (eg Transport for London) launched a “Welcome Back London” initiative, in an attempt to encourage and attract people back to the big ‘Smoke’, especially the west-end.
Part of this campaign, involved the re-branding of a number of tube and overground station – by providing them with a ’roundel’ that reflects what the area where the station is located, is famous for.
For example – Leicester Square tube station, has its very own “Opening Night” roundel, because of the areas connection to ‘Theatreland’.
Similarly Piccadilly Circus and Shoreditch have a re-branded “Going Out Out” roundel on display at their stations.
A total of 16 stations have re-branded with these descriptive roundels, since the easing of the various ‘lockdowns’ – and they are:- 
Gloucester Road – (District & Circle Line)
Cutty Sark – (Docklands Light Railway-DLR)
Canary Wharf – (Jubilee Line)
Canary Wharf – (DLR)
Brixton – (Victoria Line)
Hyde Park Corner – (Piccadilly Line)
Hackney Wick – (London Overground) 
Shoreditch – (London Overground)
plus the ones that I tacked down – which were:-
Covent Garden – (Piccadilly Line) – “Jolly Good Time”
Leicester Square – (Northern Line) – “Opening Night”
Piccadilly Circus – (Bakerloo Line) – “Going Out Out”
Regents Park – (Bakerloo Line) – “Here Comes Summer”
Tottenham Court Road – (Central Line) – “Night Owl”
Bond Street – (Jubilee Line) – “Jolly Good Time”
Barbican – (Met, Circle & Hammersmith & City Line) – “Opening Night”
Oxford Circus – (Victoria Line) – “Retail Therapy”
And then there’s one that , although outside of the initial “Welcome Back London” campaign, is my personal favourite, and is located at Bank tube station – where there is a roundel re-named “Smile” – so named because it depicts “Sq-Mile” – as Bank is located in the City of London’s ‘Square Mile’.
‘Welcome Back London’ is TfL’s biggest campaign since the 2012 Olympics.
Is this initiative a good idea???? 
I’m gonna sound like a right boring old fart here, but personally, I’m not too sure whether I agree with something like these globally recognised roundels – a stable fixture of London Underground’s history – being re-branded with, what to me, seems like a cheap, dumbed down slogan – but as I say, that’s just my opinion.
I mean – if we allow stuff like this to happen, then who knows – next, we might end up seeing something ridiculous like a man-made hill being built right next to an iconic history London landmark, like Marble Arch for example………oh….hang on a minute!!!!
Anyone travelling to or through one of the above stations, and who notices one of these unique roundels – please feel free to take a photo and ping it over to me, and I shall add it to the blog’s ‘gallery’ – (e-mail address – geoffclements@btinternet.com)
Wishing all Shoes followers a Happy Peaceful & Safe Christmas
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See below for the full gallery of photos taken to support this blog
The “Retail Therapy” roundel at Oxford Circus tube station. Referencing the Oxford Streets shops.
A roundel at Barbican tube station, referencing the Barbican Theatre and other exhibitions held regularly in the area.
Me – alongside the “Opening Night” roundel on display at Barbican tube station.
the “Going Out Out” roundel at Shoreditch overground station – Shoreditch being one of the trendiest districts in London, with a thriving night life.
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The “Jolly Good Time” roundel on display at Covent Garden tube station – because apparently, everyone who visits Covent Garden, has a jolly good time !!
Me – alongside the “Jolly Good Time” roundel at Covent Garden tube station.
Another “Going Out Out” roundel located at Piccadilly Circus tube station
Another view of the “Going Out Out” roundel located at Piccadilly Circus tube station
The “Opening Night” roundel at Leicester Square tube station – reflecting the districts ‘theatreland’
Me – alongside the “Opening Night” roundel at Leicester Square tube station
Another view of the “Opening Night” roundel at Leicester Square tube station – reflecting the districts ‘theatreland’
Regents Park tube station has it very own “Here Comes Summer” roundel.
Another “Jolly Good Time” roundel – this time at Bond Street tube station
Me – beneath the “Night Owls” roundel on display at Tottenham Court Road tube station.
Another view of the “Night Owls” roundel on display at Tottenham Court Road tube station.
Me – with the Tottenham Court Road “Night Owl” roundel, in the background.
This roundel situated at Bank tube station – is probably my favourite. When you look closely at this “Smile” roundel – it all makes sense – as it’s actually SqMile (ie “Square Mile” of which Bank tube station sits bang in the middle of)
A close-up of the “Smile” roundel on display at Bank tube station – that references Bank’s location within the City’s ‘Square Mile’.
Me alongside the “Smile” roundel situated at Bank tube station
Me – on the way back home on the tube – have spent a good few hours travelling around mullering the life out of my free-travel ’60Plus Oyster Card’ – seeking out a selection of these ‘Welcome Back to London’ roundels
Could someone please tell me what the roundel outside the new Bank underground station at the Bloomberg building represents?
Any clues as to what it depicts??